Effects of nitrogen limitation on water relations of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings

The water relations of shoots of young jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings were examined 6 and 15 weeks after the initiation of four different dynamic nitrogen (N) treatments using a pressure-volume analysis. The N treatments produced a wide range of needle N concentrations from 12 to 32 mg g^?1 dry mass and a 10-fold difference in total dry mass at 15 weeks. Osmotic potential at full turgor did not change over the range of needle N concentrations observed. Osmotic potential at turgor-loss point, however, declined as N concentrations decreased, indicating an increased ability of N-deficient jack pine plants to maintain turgor. The increase could be attributed largely to an increase in cell wall elasticity, suggesting that elasticity changes may be a common, significant adaptation of plants to environmental stresses. Dry mass per unit saturated water almost doubled as needle N level dropped from 32 to 12 mg g^?1 and was inversely correlated to the bulk modulus of elasticity. This suggests that cell wall elasticity is determined more by the nature of its cross-linking matrix than by the total amount of cell wall material present. Developmental change was evident in the response of some water relation variables to N limitation.     

杉木优良变异类型——罗田垂枝杉生物学特性研究

罗田垂枝杉是20世纪70年代中期在湖北省罗田县发现的杉木自然变异类型,在与黄枝杉比较的基础上,对罗田垂枝杉的形态变异特征和生物学特性进行了深入的调查研究,其形态特征与其它杉木类型的主要区别是：2～3年生的侧枝自然下垂,6～7年生的老枝自然脱落,树冠窄小,是具有遗传改良品质和较高利用价值的种质资源。     

Influence of sex, slaughter weight and carcass weight on “non-carcass” and carcass quality in segureña lambs

The effects of sex, slaughter weight and carcass weight on carcass characteristics and meat quality traits were evaluated using 100 Segureña lambs. The management of all lambs was similar prior to slaughter at 19–25 kg. Slaughtered animals with a hot carcass weight below 20 kg were assigned to class B, and those greater than 22 kg to class C. Carcass weight had a significant influence on “non-carcass” components, dressing percentage, subjective carcass conformation, fat deposits, carcass fatness, bone and most carcass measurements. Sex had a significant effect on age at slaughter, “non-carcass” components, rib measurements, dressing percentage, fat deposits, and neck and shoulder percentage. As the weight increased, the carcass measurements also increased. Concurrently, while improving the conformation indices of the carcass, leg and dressing percentages, neither the commercial cuts of the animal nor tissue composition was significantly affected. Sex primarily affected the quantity of all types of fat deposits.     

Temperaturverlauf und Gärfutterqualität unter verschiedenen Silodecken im Flachsilo

Observations were carried out of actual acidity, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, enzyme activity in the rumen, total protein, urea, total lipid and glucose in the serum of conventional (CL) and gnotobi‐otic lambs (GL) in the period of milk nutrition. The inoculum of gnotobiotic iambs contained Streptococcus bovis, Prevoxella ruminicola, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Selenomonas ruminantium at a concentration of 1.10⁶ each. Throughout the observation period the pH of the rumen contents of gnotobiotic lambs ranged within 6.5–6.8 with a significant difference at an age of 7 weeks. Total VFA concentrations in the rumen contents were increased in the CL throughout milk nutrition; the differences at 4 and 5 weeks of age were significant. Total VFA in the conventional lambs revealed an increasing tendency between weeks 4 and 7, reaching higher levels at 7 weeks of age (57.1 mmol.l"¹), whereas in the gnotobiotic animals the range (24.3–30.1 mmol.l"¹) was narrow and the peak occurred at 6 weeks of age. In GL significantly increased molar proportions of acetic acid were observed whereas in CL the molar proportions of propionic acid proved to be significant increased. The molar proportions of butyric and valeric acids were increased in CL but the group differences were not significant. In GL no isoacids were found. Alpha amylase (E.C.3.2.1.1.) activity of the rumen contents was significantly increased in GL between weeks 2 and 6 of age whereas cel‐Iulase (endoglucanase E.C.3.2.1.4. and cellobiohydrolase E.C.3.2.1.91.) activity was significantly increased in 4‐week‐old CL. Over the whole period of milk nutrition no significant differences were observed in ure‐ase (E.C.3.5.1.5.) activity of the rumen contents in the examined groups.

At 5 weeks of age significantly increased total protein levels were observed in the conventional animals with maximum levels occurring at 4 weeks of age (CL‐59.5 g.l"¹ GL‐55.3 g.l"¹). Urea levels in 6‐week old conventional lambs were significantly higher than in the gnotobiotic animals (CL‐6.4 mmol.l"’ vs. GL‐1.9 mmol.l"¹). As to glycaemia no significant group differences were recorded. In the conventional animals total lipid levels were significantly increased at 1 and 6 weeks of age with a peak occurring in the first week of life (7.5 g.l"¹) whereas in the gnotobiotic lambs a significant increase was observed at 3 weeks of age, the peak being recorded in 4 week‐old animals (4.3 g.l"¹). Throughout the period of interest the mean daily weight gains in the conventional and gnotobiotic lambs presented 0.164 and 0.162 kg, respectively. The functional development of the rumen was significantly influenced by the complexity of the microfiora.     

马尾松幼胚体细胞胚胎发生研究

本论文首次报道了马尾松（Pinus massoniana Lamb.）幼胚体细胞胚胎发生的完整发育过程,并对影响马尾松胚性愈伤组织诱导的因素如球果采种期、球果冷藏处理时间、外植体处理方式等进行了探讨,统计胚性愈伤组织诱导率,进行增殖评价,探讨ABA浓度梯度对马尾松体细胞胚分化成熟的影响,试验数据用SPSS16统计分析软件进行方差分析、差异显著性检验。结果表明：1）2008~2009连续2年内15个采种期得到的幼胚,胚性愈伤组织诱导和增殖有显著性差异,最适宜的马尾松球果采种期是6月下旬至7月下旬,诱导率在9.66%~22.59%之间;2）球果冷藏处理时间,对胚性愈伤组织诱导有显著性差异,其中4℃冷藏球果15d有利于幼胚胚性愈伤组织诱导;3）雌配子体包含幼胚的接种处理方式是可取的;4）胚性愈伤组织经稳定增殖培养后,转入分化成熟培养基,得到体细胞胚状体＂爆发式＂分化成熟,数量多,质量好。适宜体胚成熟转化的培养基为：成熟LP培养基添加ABA5.0mg·L-1＋60.0g·L-1蔗糖,并附加L-谷氨酰胺和水解酪蛋白;5）成熟体细胞胚在无激素萌发型LP培养基上正常萌发,并转化为结构完整的小植株。本研究首次建立了马尾松幼胚体细胞胚胎发生技术平台,为马尾松遗传改良种质创新、缩短育种周期奠定了研究基础。     

Spatial behaviour of sheep during the neonatal period: Preliminary study on the influence of shelter

Effective shelter has been demonstrated to reduce neonatal lamb mortality rates during periods of inclement weather. Periods of high wind speed and rainfall have been shown to influence shelter usage; however, it is not yet known how ewe factors such as breed, age and body condition score influence shelter-seeking behaviour. This study, conducted on a working upland farm in the UK, examined impact of artificial shelter on the biological and climatic factors that influence peri-parturient ewe behaviour. Pregnant ewes (n = 147) were randomly allocated between two adjacent fields which were selected for their similarity in size, topography, pasture management, orientation to the prevailing wind and available natural shelter. In one field, three additional artificial shelters were installed to increase the available shelter for ewes, this field was designated the Test field; no additional artificial shelter was provided in the second field which was used as the Control field. Individual ewes were observed every 2 h between 0800 and 1600 for 14 continuous days to monitor their location relative to shelter. Ewe breed (Aberfield and Highlander), age (2–8 years) and body condition score were considered as explanatory variables to explain flock and individual variance in shelter-seeking behaviour and the prevalence of issues which required the intervention of the shepherd, termed ‘shepherding problems’. Any ewe observed with dystocia, a dead or poor vigour lamb or who exhibited mismothering behaviour was recorded as a shepherding problem. The prevalence of these shepherding problems which necessitate human intervention represents arguably the most critical limiting factor for the successful management of commercial sheep flocks in outdoor lambing systems. Overall, ewes in the Test field with access to additional artificial shelter experienced fewer shepherding problems than those in the Control field (P < 0.05). A significant breed effect was also observed, with Highlander ewes more likely to seek shelter than Aberfield ewes (P < 0.001), and experiencing significantly fewer shepherding interventions (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the substantial and significant benefits to animal welfare and productivity that can be achieved through the provision of shelter in commercial, upland, outdoor lambing systems in the UK.     

The northern limit of Pinus banksiana Lamb. in Canada: explaining the difference between the eastern and western distributions

Aim Present northern distribution limit of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) follows the northern limit of continuous open boreal forest in western Canada, but not in eastern Canada where it is located further south. We tested the hypothesis that fire plays a more important role than climate in explaining the present position of the northern distribution limit of jack pine. Location An experimental jack pine plantation was set up in 1992, c. 300 km north of the present distribution limit of the species, in the Boniface river area of northern Québec (57°43′ N, 76°05′ W). Methods Climate and fire data were used to compare sites at and north of the present distribution limit of jack pine. In 2001, surviving individuals from the plantation were measured (total height, annual shoot elongation, basal diameter, and presence/absence of cones). Results Climate data from the ten weather stations used in this study did not show major differences. The northern limit of jack pine distribution is closely associated with the occurrence of fires larger than 200 ha. Survival of the planted jack pines was 31%. About 25% of the surviving pines qualified as normal, single‐stem individuals; the others were slightly uprooted and/or showed marks of erosion or foraging. Cones were produced, although no viable seeds were found. Main conclusions The low number of degree‐days above 5 °C at the plantation site could explain why the seeds were not viable. However, such climate conditions are not sufficient to prevent growth, as was shown by annual shoot elongation measurements. Most of the surviving jack pines from the Boniface river plantation are relatively healthy and follow a normal developmental programme. Low fire frequency and small fire size are amongst the main factors that prevented P. banksiana from migrating further north or east following deglaciation in northern Québec and Labrador.     

杉木人工林单叶至冠层光合作用的扩展与模拟研究

根据野外条件下杉木（Ｃｕｎｎｉｎｇｈａｍｉａ ｌａｎｃｅｏｌａｔａ（Ｌａｍｂ．）Ｈｏｏｋ．）针叶光合作用的测定结果。考虑到光合作用对光的非线性响应特性,及其与叶所处的实际冠层环境变量和冠层的空气动力学特性的相关,以筒化的林冠辐射传输模型为基础,结合不同部位和年龄针叶的光响应曲线,实现了叶室测量结果向冠层环境的调整,并进行了冠层光合作用模拟的初步研究。经过调整后的冠层光合作用平均比未经过调整的值高１     

响应曲面法优化马尾松中莽草酸的超声提取工艺

以马尾松松针为原料,采用超声波提取法从松针粉中提取莽草酸,通过考察料液比((VH2O∶m松针粉,mL:g)、提取时间、提取温度及超声波功率等因素对松针中总莽草酸含量的影响,并在单因素试验的基础上,选取料液比、提取时间、超声波功率3个变量,进行Box-Behnken中心组合设计优化,获得马尾松松针中莽草酸的最佳提取工艺参数为料液比1∶26,提取时间为46min,超声波功率为359 W,此条件下莽草酸的提取率为1.948%。     

Serum Selenium,Vitamin E,and Sialic Acids Concentrations in Lambs with White Muscle Disease

The aim of this study was to determine the serum concentrations of selenium, vitamin E, and total- and lipid-bound sialic acid (LBSA) in lambs with white muscle disease (WMD) before and after treatment with a commercial preparation containing selenite and vitamin E. Fifteen lambs with WMD and ten control animals were used as research materials. Blood samples were collected from both groups before- and 1 month after treatment for Se analysis by fluorimetry, whereas vitamin E and sialic acid were measured by HPLC and spectrophotometry, respectively. Compared to controls, in the diseased animals, there was a significant increase of serum total sialic acid (TSA) and LBSA, together with significant decreases of serum Se and vitamin E concentrations (p < 0.001). One month after treatment, a reversal of trend was observed with decreases of TSA and LBSA and increases of Se and vitamin E concentrations. The TSA and LBSA levels, however, remained significantly higher than those of the controls, p < 0.05 and 0.001, respectively. The Se and vitamin E concentrations of the treated animals were the same as those of controls. This is the first study on total and LBSA concentrations in lambs with WMD, showing that these markers can be used in the prognosis of the disease.